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CoCoDA's cooperation: : $4,792 Grant (3rd quarter 2001) Since 1996, the Rolf A. Merton Trust has made annual contributions to CoCoDA for grants to support the operational budget of Radio Victoria in Ciudad Victoria, Cabañas. In 2001, $4,792 of the Merton Trust contribution was allocated for the 2001-2002 operational budget of Radio Victoria. This grant funded salaries for the Press Director and the Administrator / Chief Technician of Radio Victoria for 12 months, thereby guaranteeing the stability, continuity and quality of operations of the radio. Highlights for the Radio in 2001 included purchase of the property where they have broadcast for 8 years (see Community Economic Development projects), remodeling of the broadcast booth, their "En Voz Alta" ("Out Loud") news program, live coverage of the January and February, 2001 earthquakes, installation of two antenna permitting use of the full potency of their 100-watts transmitter, and a visit with renowned Salvadoran television journalist Maurcio Funes in the studios of Channel 12. Complete Radio Victoria Narrative Report -- 2001 The year 2002 was a year of many successes for Radio Victoria. The biggest moment was in February when we finally were able to transfer the property from private hands to ADES and CoCoDA. We still have to pay off a loan, but now we truly are at home and we feel very happy. In 2001 we also maintained the broadcast of our news program "Out Loud" every day of the week. The news show is one of the biggest efforts of the Radio and to guarantee it we have 9 people -- 1 full time, 1 half time, and the rest part time. It is worth mentioning that we had special coverage of the January 13 and February 13 earthquakes. We were forced out of our broadcast booth in the second earthquake because one of the walls was cracked and several tiles fell in from the roof. But keep continued to broadcast and worked hard coordinating with our national network via ARPAS (Association of Participatory Radio and Programs of El Salvador). We also continued live coverage throughout the year of the Sunday mass. We established a very good relationship with the priest Father Luis Quintanilla who supported us both with a weekly radio program as well as with the Sunday mass and the purchase of some antennas. In March we took a very emotional excursion. Maruicio Fúnes (a highly respected Salvadoran television journalist) received us in the offices of Channel 12. We spent more than 2 hours and while talking with Mr. Funes he took us on a tour of the entire building of the channel, he explained how everything worked, he introduced us to his news team, he took us to the studios where we took many photos and he had great patience with us, even giving us autographs. In February our dear collaborator Eric Halkjaer from Swiss Technical Cooperation left us but no we have added the compañera Kelly Creedon to help with our news programs. In April and May we had various visits. A friend, Paty Lawless, came to record with a videocamera and she gave us a laptop computer. Gwen and Tom brought us material and economic support and helped in renovating our production studios. We were able to better situate the two production studios to be more apt spaces to produce our news program, the educational spots and the commercials. We were also able to better polarize the equipment on the hill where our transmitter is located. In July, we much success, we celebrated our eighth anniversary with the 4th Festival of Folk Art. Despite having the electricity go out during the dance and that we had problems with the DJ that we had hired, the Festival was very nice with a lot of participation and thanks to the Santa Barbara Church in Sensuntepeque we had a stage they lent us for the event. Before the Festival we had a contest for a new design for the t-shirts and we presented the winner at the Festival. We already have the new t-shirts and bumber stickers. Unfortunately, we had 3 losses at the Radio in 2001. Two were compañeros who felt they had to leave for the United States to be able to support their families and the other was Edward who decided to leave the Radio. But at the same time other people have come to fill the empty spaces, Oscar has taken Edward's position and the most uplifting is that we have a beautiful new baby thanks to our faithful reporter Isabel. In November we made another big leap since we were able to purchase and obtain factory antennas that allow us, for the first time, to broadcast at the full power of our 100-watt transmitter. Now the signal is more clear and stronger. Also 2 women friends of Cristina who do video work visited us this month. We continued again this year with support from the Rolf A. Merton Trust which helped us immensely with the operations of the Radio and thanks to the great efforts of CoCoDA, and the good will of many friends, we met the first half of a challenge grant to help us begin acquiring new equipment for the Radio. Other achievements are: the increase in publicity sales, 2 evaluation and planning meetings with the Radio, montly attendance to the ARPAS directors meetings and participation in the ARPAS Board of Directors, participation and on-going contributions to the Information Network "Voices in Contact" and Radio Magazine "Veredas Cuscatlecas" of ARPAS, participation in an integrated fund raising campaign of ARPAS, regular meetings of the Central Team of Radio Victoria, collaboration from our audience and many friends, the rennovation of our broadcast booth, the formation of a production team amidst many daily things that at times depress us and at times uplift us. The life of a radio station is very complicated. There are many aspects, from the most cold and technical to the most warm and human. It requires a lot of patience and a lot of creativity. But we are proud of our community radio and of course there is much more we can do to improve, but we continue forward and with the support of everyone we will continue to reap successes. |
Radio Victoria Equipment Improvements CoCoDA's cooperation: $7,500 matching grant (4th quarter 2001) In 2001, Equity Trust, a non-profit organization based in Voluntown, CT, offered to match dollar for dollar up to $15,000 that Radio Victoria in Ciudad, Victoria could raise for improving their equipment, to improve the community radio station's long-term viability. By October, 2001, Radio Victoria had raised $7,500 through an international network of friends of the Radio and a festival fund raiser held by the Radio in Ciudad Victoria. That same month, Equity Trust disbursed half of their matching grant ($7,500). Of the $15,000 (Radio Victoria funds plus Equity Trust matching grant) a total of $6,273 was spent on new equipment as of June, 2002. Equipment purchased included antennas, CD/tape decks, telephone/fax machine, radio/recorders, consoles, a transformer, microphones, and two networked computers. As of September, 2002, Radio Victoria had raised another $7,620, to qualify for the final Equity Trust matching grant disbursement of $7,500. Friends of Radio Victoria - February - September, 2001 Friends of Radio Victoria - October, 2001 - August, 2002 Mike Felsen |
Last Revised on 9 May 2006